Jeff’s Corner 4-24-20

Hey, Hey, Hey,

Well, with our tasting rooms closed other than for purchases and Wine Club pick ups, I have been forced to work at home. No sympathy cards required, however, since working at home for me consists of drinking and writing about wine.

The week before we stopped (for the time being) doing tastings, we released the new Rendezvous to rave reviews and brisk sales. When the 2017 (which garnered a double gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle competition) ran out, it was drinking as well as any of our wines, so if you have a bottle or two at home, pull the cork and enjoy.

 

As I’ve often said, Rendezvous occupies an important role in our red wine portfolio. It is a great crossover wine for folks just starting to enjoy reds, it’s very accessible in summer when it is 110*, and it appeals to all those pesky Pinot Noir drinkers with its bright, fresh fruitiness. Rendezvous is also one of our most versatile wines with food.

A brilliant ruby/garnet, the new 2018 (100% Texas High Plains fruit) is a winsome blend of 33.3% Cinsault, 24.9% Mourvedre, 24.6% Syrah, 11.6% Tannat and 5.6% Petite Sirah with an ABV of 14.3%. Delicate and enticing aromas of raspberry, cranberry, Bing cherry, cinnamon, and red licorice flirt with floral notes of lavender, red carnation and rose petal.

The palate is charming and bright, with soft tannins and lively acids supporting this delightfully fruit-forward wine. Great balance leads to a clean, fruit-driven finish that lingers with us for a remarkably long time. Let’s serve this with a slight chill, about 55*.

Summer is on the way, so let’s pair this with a black sesame-crusted yellow fin tuna steak grilled rare to mid-rare accompanied by some roasted red potatoes with fresh rosemary and garlic. A nice slice of cheesecake with a cherry compote would wrap things up just fine…